It seems like the big cities on the East Coast have just about everything… except for a big source for biodiesel. Well, that could change soon as New York-based Berkshire Biodiesel builds New England’s biggest biodiesel plant. This story in the Hartford Courant says the 50-million-gallon-a-year plant is expected to open next year near Pittsfield, Mass. and will make biodiesel …
Web Site Promotes Oil from Algae
Put together oil and algae and what do you get? Oilgae! It’s not just a clever wordplay, some researchers are getting oil from algae. A new web site, Oilgae.com, is promoting those new technologies that could prove to be a very viable feedstock for biodiesel: While a number of bio-feedstock are currently being experimented for biodiesel production, algae have emerged …
Possible US-Europe Biodiesel Trade War Brewing
European biodiesel makers are crying foul over U.S. subsidies to biodiesel exporters. According to this story posted on WisconsinAgConnection.com, the folks from across the pond are talking about a World Trade Organization investigation and retaliatory tariffs being put on U.S. biodiesel sent to Europe. According to European media reports, the subsidy allows U.S. exporters to undercut European rivals by at …
Companies Bet on Biodiesel
American companies seem to be betting that biodiesel will continue its explosive growth it has seen in recent years. This story from Reuters says high oil prices along with the Bush Administration’s commitment to promoting the green fuel industry through monetary incentives seems to helping the industry along: There are 115 biodiesel plants in the United States with a combined …
Imperium “Propels” Biodiesel Sales
Seattle-based Imperium Renewables is making an investment in its own future by loaning money to Propel Biofuels to build its first biodiesel filling stations in Washington state. According to this story posted on SeattlePI.com, the undisclosed loan amount will help open the first station soon and four more in the coming weeks… and that could be just the start: Rob …
Bush on Biofuels
During a White House press briefing on Monday with European leaders, President Bush commented on his goals for renewable fuels and the current research in producing ethanol from sources other than corn in response to a foreign journalist’s question about global environmental concerns: I have said we’ll have a mandatory fuel standard, not a voluntary fuel standard, but a mandatory …
Biodiesel Boat Abandons Record Chase
A 100% biodiesel-fueled boat has had to give up its quest to break a world record for racing around the world. According to this story posted on C/Net.com, the captain of the Earthrace says it would be impossible to break the 75-day record set in 1998 by a group of British sailors in a regular diesel boat: TV 3 in …
Clif Bar Using Biodiesel
Organic snack bar maker… and environmentally-active company… Clif Bar is now using eight biodiesel trucks to help marketing managers deliver their snacks, along with an Earth-friendly message. This story on GNET.org says the change is part of the company lessening its impact on global warming: By converting its field marketing vehicles to biodiesel and eliminating the need for 8,000 gallons …
TDOT Going Biodiesel
Tennessee’s Department of Transportation (TDOT) announced today that it is expanding its use of biodiesel into vehicles used in Nashville. According to a release on TDOT’s web site, the agency has been using biodiesel for two years in a 130-vehicle test fleet in East Tennessee as part of the Pilot Fleet Program: “It’s imperative that government and businesses begin identifying …
DTN Starts Biodiesel Trading Info
Market information provider DTN has introduced a biodiesel trading platform. DTN ProphetX Biodiesel Edition provides biodiesel producers and investors with intelligence on agricultural and energy markets. This news release posted on Grainnet.com says the service also provides pricing information, commentary and other risk management tools: This edition is for anyone in the emerging biodiesel markets to ensure future profitability and …